COH Story

COH began as an informal collaborative looking to improve the health and well-being of children in central Texas by working across organizational institutions. Eighty-four agencies came together and identified four areas of focus: linking and leveraging our existing resources; coordinating community messaging and education; using technology; and research and best practices to solve community problems.

In early 2008, thirteen lead community agencies and institutions organized as the Charter Members of Children‘s Optimal Health (COH) and formed a Texas Unincorporated Non-Profit Association (TUNA). Five of the Charter Member organizations committed to the initial funding of COH, while others committed data, time, and their knowledge surrounding the central Texas community. By May, COH had formed a Governing Board and filed for 501(c)3 status. These Board members reflected the diverse organizations that impact a child‘s life; healthcare, housing, education, economic development, and agencies addressing social and emotional development. This variety in Board representation continues to allow COH to look at a broader definition of health that includes educational factors as well as the social determinants that play a valuable role in shaping outcomes for children.

COH Timeline

2006

Over 80 agencies attended the first COH summit held to address the need of optimizing children‘s health in Central Texas, Summit held June 2006. This resulted in four task forces were formed to look at:

How we link and leverage existing resources

How we best use technology

How we better use research and best practice to improve outcomes

How we can coordinate outreach and education

COH holds its second COH community summit, adopting task force goals and objectives, Summit held November 2006

2007

COH holds the third COH community summit, where the task force reported on their work and successes, Summit held August 2007:

Link and Leverage – pulled together partners to assist in the development of a child and youth mental health conference

Research and Development – researched community initiatives across the country and key outcomes in child and youth development

Outreach and Education – established a community calendar of all the awareness campaigns and worked with Milkshake Media to create a brand for Children’s Optimal Health

Technology – presented GIS mapping and its use in identifying community hotspots

2008

COH filed as a Texas Unincorporated Non-Profit Association

March: COH Governing Board formed

May: COH filed for its 501(c)3 status with the IRS

June: Funding for COH begins

2009

COH holds its fourth COH community summit and presents the first COH mapping initiatives, Summit held February 2009

COH completes its first project Child Obesity by Neighborhood and Middle School in Austin ISD for school year 2007-2008 and presents it at the fifth COH community summit, Summit held November 2009

2010

Access to Healthcare, 2008

Young Children Volume I, By Physical and Social Environment

Austin ISD Child Obesity, by Neighborhood and Middle School 2009-2010

COH was published in Health Affairs for the obesity mapping project, March 2010

2011

Academic Success, Absenteeism, and Fitness Survey of AISD Students per HACA Facility

Transportation Related Child Injury, 2007-2009

Child and Youth Behavioral Health, 2009-2010

Young Children Volume II, United Way Capital Area Success by 6 Partnership